Québec, November 17, 2020. – Québec’s seasonally adjusted international merchandise exports in constant dollars were up 6.2% in September 2020 from the previous month (+2.3% in August). Despite these increases, the level of exports in September was 6.5% lower than in February 2020, before the effects of the
COVID-19 pandemic were felt.
The increase in Québec exports in September was due in part to exports of diesel and biodiesel fuels (+311.4%), aircraft (+30.1%), fresh and frozen pork (+39.3%) and electricity (+121.5%).
Conversely, exports of unwrought aluminum and aluminum alloys (-11.3%), motor gasoline (-57.1%), and unwrought gold, silver, and platinum group metals and their alloys (-56.3%) declined in September.
In the first nine months of 2020, Québec’s international merchandise exports in constant dollars decreased by 9.3% compared with the same period in 2019.
Québec’s international merchandise imports up 7.3% in September 2020
Québec’s seasonally adjusted international merchandise imports, in constant dollars, rose 7.3% in September 2020 compared with the previous month, following a 3.7% decline in August. As a result, imports reached their highest level since January 2020 and exceeded their level in February by 2.3%.
The increase in total imports in September was mainly due to growth in imports of conventional crude oil (+40.0%) and, to a lesser extent, light-duty trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles (+4.5%) and wine and brandy (+71.7%).
On the other hand, imports of medical, dental and personal safety supplies (-45.2%) and basic and semi-finished products of non-ferrous metals and non-ferrous metal alloys (-53.9%) registered sharp declines in September.
In the first nine months of 2020, Québec’s international merchandise imports in constant dollars were down 18.1% compared with the same period last year.
The situation in Canada
According to data published by Statistics Canada on November 4, Canada’s seasonally adjusted merchandise exports in constant dollars were up 1.2% in September 2020 from the previous month, after stagnating (0.0%) in August. For their part, merchandise imports increased by 0.6% in September (-0.3% in August).
In the first nine months of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019, Canada’s merchandise exports declined 8.2% and its merchandise imports fell 12.0%.
|
International merchandise exports and imports1 (percentage changes) |
|||||
| 2019 | 2020 | ||||
| Annual change | Monthly change2 | Cumulative change2,3 | |||
| August | September | ||||
| Québec | |||||
| Exports | 0.3 | 2.3 | 6.2 | -9.3 | |
| Imports | 2.7 | -3.7 | 7.3 | -18.1 | |
| Canada | |||||
| Exports | 2.4 | 0.0 | 1.2 | -8.2 | |
| Imports | 1.3 | -0.3 | 0.6 | -12.0 | |
|
1. In constant dollars, at 2012 prices. |
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International Trade Data Online: statistique.quebec.ca/international-trade
The Institut de la statistique du Québec produces, analyzes and disseminates official, objective and quality statistical information on various aspects of Québec society. It is responsible for conducting all statistical surveys of general interest. The relevance of its work makes it a strategic ally for decision makers and all those wishing to learn more about Québec.